Carolina Panthers Announce $250,000 in Grant Funding

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High Schools in North and South Carolina eligible to apply for funding to replace essentials including athletic equipment and other athletics infrastructure.

Carolina Panthers Charities is providing $250,000 in grant funding to assist high school athletic programs in North and South Carolina that have been adversely impacted by Hurricane Matthew and the storm’s aftermath. The grants are designed to assist high school athletic programs in the replacement or repair of equipment, supplies or athletic infrastructure lost or damaged due to the recent catastrophic hurricane damage that has impacted large portions of North and South Carolina.

High school athletic programs have the opportunity to apply for grant funding from Carolina Panthers Charities to assist in their storm recovery efforts. Grant applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with a deadline for consideration of November 11, 2016. The team will work in conjunction with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association and South Carolina High School League and other partnership agencies to distribute the grant application to member schools. In addition, schools may also download the application on panthers.com/ community.

“The recent hurricane and subsequent flooding events has been devastating for many communities across the region with many high schools sustaining loss or damage to athletic equipment or facilities,” said Riley Fields, Carolina Panthers director of community relations. “The Carolina Panthers hope this grant funding will enable schools, and the communities they serve, to return to a sense of normalcy by helping meet the important basic needs of high school athletic programs.”

In October 2015, Carolina Panthers Charities provided $250,000 in grant funding which aided 19 high schools in South Carolina following catastrophic flooding that impacted the region.

Contact:

Riley Fields

Carolina Panthers Director of Community Relations

704 358-7469

Riley.fields@panthers.nfl.com

 

Peter Vacho

Carolina Panthers  Military & Football Outreach Manager

704 358-7436

Peter.vacho@panthers.nfl.com

 

WIZS Radio is a Carolina Panthers Radio Network Affiliate.

Orange County Speedway forced to cancel Tomorrow’s Race

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Due to the approach of a strong storm and storms forecast for our area, we have decided to cancel Saturday’s race. We feel that this is the best decision for the competitors and the fans with all the rain & wind that is expected. We will run the Smokey Dave’s BBQ Mod 4’s on October 22nd along with all other regular divisions and the Allison Legacy Series. It will be DOUBLE POINTS for ALL of our regular divisions and there will be TWIN 50-LAP Late Model races with 4-tire purchase required.

Start time will be at approximately 6:00 p.m. on October 22nd. An official Agenda will be put out next week. Again we apologize but with the forecast, we feel conditions will not be enjoyable for fans or competitors. Thank you and we look forward to seeing everyone for Championship Night and Track or Treat on October 22nd.

Terry and Mary Beth Deal

Vance County Friday Night Football is on the Air

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Tonight.  Double coverage of Southern Vance hosting Bartlett Yancey and Northern Vance at Southern Durham.  Pregame at 6:45 p.m. following the Joy Christian Center broadcast.  Kickoff at 7 p.m. for NV at SD and 7:30 p.m. for SV vs BY.  Join us for the live play by play on 1450 AM WIZS plus the live stream on wizs.com and via the Tunein Radio App on your computer, smartphone or tablet.

Scouting Reports by Jeff Jenkins:

For the past four years, the Spartans of Southern Durham have had good reason to consider themselves the best in the Big Eight 3A conference, and they were justified in believing they were the best 3A team in the state.  After being re-classified from 4A to 3A in 2013 and joining the Big 8, Southern swept the conference two consecutive years, won the State 3AA championship in 2013, got upset in the Playoffs in 2014, and went back to the championship game again last year.  They lost to Crest, the school they beat for the crown in 2013, to enter this season as the reigning state 3AA runners-up, but then last year’s Big 8 title – and last five wins – were forfeited due to fielding a player whose participation was based on an physical exam form that expired in late-season. The Big Eight title crown went to Orange County, which had finished second to Southern for three years running.  Whatever the record book says now,  everyone had to admit that the Spartans looked like a team that would contend with the state’s best again this year.  Head coach Darius Robinson admitted that his team had lost a few stand-outs from last year, but felt his 17 returning starters would make his team even more experienced and deeper.  Returning veterans include all-conference quarterback Jalen Greene and all-conference defenders Tackle Bobby Fuller, middle linebacker Andre Purvis, and end Ezekial Jennette.

But something went wrong.  As usual, the Spartans started their season against four tough 4A teams, all of which reached the playoffs last year. But, instead of beating 2 or 3 of the big schools and entering Conference play with their usual record of 4-1 or at least 3-2, Southern came out 2-3 against nonconference opponents.  Then, they lost to Orange County for the first time in recent memory, and by an eye-popping score of 49-7 – the Spartan’s worst defeat since 2012.  Orange was gunning for Southern, and with good reason – the Panthers had been conference runners-up to the Spartans for three straight years, AND fell to Southern in the playoffs in two of those three years as well.  Orange is undefeated this year and, with Southern Durham out of the way, they are likely to stay that way throughout the regular season.

Statistically, the Spartans do not look like an elite team; before the Orange game, they were scoring 23 points per game, compared to 34 last year, and they allowed 24 per game, compared to 19 last year.  The Orange blow-out does nothing to improve that picture.   The Offense averages a respectable but unspectacular 325 yards per game in total.  Sr. QB Jalen Green has passed for 143 yards per game and 6 TDs, and he is also the #2 rusher on the team with 53 yards per game and one TD.  Sr. WR Montrel Cooper, at 6’4,” averages 64 yards per game receiving for 2 of those TDs, followed  by Sr. Marcus McDonald at 6’3” with 53 yards per game and one score.  The rushing game is surprisingly mediocre, with only 130 yards total per game and Sr Joey Strong Jr leading the team with 83 yards per game. As predicted by Coach Robinson, Southern’s defense is indeed being led by Sr MLB Andre Purvis with nearly five tackles per game, and Sr. Tackle Ezekial Jennette with over four, but Sr. Tackle Bobby Fuller has missed three of the six games, and has not been a factor.  However, Soph DB Taron Beauford, Jr. utility player Ryan Bond and Sr. LB Dezmon Criss-Barnard have all stepped up with four or five Tackles each per game.

Northern Vance will still need to play their best game of the season to come out on top tonight, but there is a real possibility that the Vikings can go toe-to-toe with the 2016 Spartans, something they could not even hope for in previous seasons, when they were thrashed by Southern by scores of 62-6, 69-0, and, last year, 42-13.

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The Buccaneers of Bartlett Yancey, the only high school in Caswell County, invade Raider Stadium tonight under the leadership of second-year head coach David Weathersby, who is being credited with changing a culture of losing that gripped the school’s football program around the turn of the 21st century.   In Weathersby’s first game as coach, the Bucs won their 2015 season opener against Raleigh’s 4A Enloe, ended a 19-game losing streak, and laid the groundwork for a 5-6 record and their first playoff appearance since 1996.  Graduation robbed Weathersby of his starting quarterback and some other key players, but the winning season brought out a good crop of new players, and “the new BY” is continuing to rebuild.  Enloe got their revenge with a 58-35 win over the Buccaneers in this season’s opener, and 4A Person County beat them in week two, but Bartlett-Yancey has now won three in a row to bring a 3-2 record against the Raiders, who lost last year’s meeting 42-8 in Yanceyville.

This season, B.Y. features 14 seniors, including starting QB Tre Dildy, and several experienced receivers, including Sr. Jaylon Jeffries and Jr. Brandon Budd.  Among the talented newcomers are 6’2” Fr WR and kick returner Dequondre Newman, the team leader with 316 yards receiving for 4 TDs.  In the five games this season, Dildy has a 61 % completion rate, passing for 549 yards and five TDs, and rushing for three more scores.  Sr RB Shay Jeffers rushed for over 1200 yards last season on his way to an all-conference selection.  So far this season, Jeffers is on schedule to exceed his 2015 production, rushing for 1120 yards and 9 TDs so far.   In a 19-14 win over Granville Central two weeks ago, the Bucs had 477 total yards, with Dildy passing for 117 yards, and Jeffers rushing for a whopping 261 yards.

The defense is led by the linebacking group of Sr. MLB Tyree Foster who was a leader in the first five games last year, before an injury ended his season;   Jr. Joe Durden, this year’s leading tackler with 8 tackles per game; and  Jr. Hart Modlin.  As a RB,  Durden has also rushed for 2 short-yardage TDs

The Bucs offense is averaging 27 points per game, an improvement over last year’s 21 per game.  As a result of their high-scoring losses to begin this season, the defense has allowed 34 points per game, but only 19 per game in their 3 wins.  Overall the Buccaneers tend to lose big and win close, suggesting that their defense needs more improvement.  Their 42-8 win over Southern Vance last year was their highest scoring and most lopsided win of that season.

Friday Night Football 9-23-16 on WIZS

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Vance County Friday Night Football 9-23-16:

Northern Vance is on the road to Webb in Oxford.  That’s our play by play game of the week on 1450 AM WIZS as well as live streamed on wizs.com and WIZS on Tunein Radio.  We will have live score updates of Southern Vance at Louisburg as well.  Join Bill Harris and Doc Ayscue for the kickoff at 7:00 p.m. following the Joy Christian Center broadcast.

Scouting Reports from Jeff Jenkins of WIZS:

NV @ Webb — Webb Warriors head Coach Tony Midgette was only partially joking when he described his team’s lack of depth during the first week of practice this summer. J. F. Webb is one of the smallest 3A schools in the state, and Coach Midgette told his players that many of them would have to be prepared to play three or four positions.  The Warriors have been working with line-up changes during their five nonconference games and some combinations have, of course, worked better than others.  Last year, with similar challenges, Webb started strong, going into conference play with a 3-2 record, averaging scoring 29 points per game, and holding their nonconference opponents to 22 points per game.  This year, they have started 1-4, losing to both of their county rivals, Granville Central and South Granville, and by a large margin to Franklinton last week.  And their stats reflect this start – a scoring average of 20 points per game and 36 points allowed per game.

The Vikings’ nonconference statistics have compared favorably to the Warriors both last year and this season.  Last year the two teams were almost neck and neck and their 2015 match-up showed it.  Both teams started conference play with 3-2 records; both teams averaged scoring 29 points per game prior to their meeting; and the Vikings were allowing just under 20 points per game while the Warriors allowed 22.  Their contest last year went down to the wire with Northern Vance squeezing out a 35-34 victory.  Webb did not win another game last year and finished 3-8; but the Vikings won their last game against Cedar Ridge to finish 5-6.  This season, Northern Vance, like Webb, is scoring right at 20 points per game, but the Vikings have allowed only 11 points per game compared to Webb’s 36; so Defense will be the biggest difference tonight and the Vikings have the edge on that side of the ball.

And the Vikings will need to play Webb tough, regardless of the score, because the Warriors do not quit.  Three of their five games have been close, and two were high-scoring affairs that show the Warriors’ ability to take full advantage of teams with struggling defenses.  Webb took their only victory this season off Southern Vance in Week two by hanging around in spite of a 42-26 4th quarter deficit and taking full advantages of Raider errors to score 16 points in the last 3 minutes of regulation.  Then, two weeks ago at home against Louisburg, the Warriors came up just one score short in a 48-40 shoot-out.

Northern Vance will need to think shut-out tonight – because the Vikings’ best games have been shut-outs, and Webb has a leaky defense that should allow enough scoring with the Viking defense shutting down the passing game that has kept Webb alive to the very end of its two best games this season.

SV @ Louisburg —

After two consecutive playoff appearances as a small 2A team, and another as a newly reclassified 1A team, Louisburg crashed an burned last season with a new coach, a short roster, and injuries to some key starters.  The 2015 Warriors finished 1-10, averaged scoring 18 points per game, and allowed 45 per game.  They started last season 0-4, and then lost to Southern Vance 56-7, by far the raiders’ best game of 2015.  So far this season, Louisburg looks improved, beginning 1-3 with a close 48-40 win over Webb, and a respectable scoring average of 23 points, much better than last year’s 10 points for the first 4 games.

Second-year coach Dontae Lassiter has more to work with this year; he only lost 2 seniors to graduation and has 14 seniors to lead this year’s 39-man roster. And he is keeping things simple be counting on a run offense.  Senior Max Jones started last year wearing No. 81 as a tight end, played quarterback for part of last season, and returns this year as starting quarterback wearing No. 16.  Soph. back-up Cale Bolton has already seen action in 2 games. The rushing leaders so far are Sr. Quamon Person, with over 100 yards per game and 4 TDs, and Jr. Tyre Davis, with just under 100 rushing yards per game and 3 scores. Davis has also returned kicks for 330 yards, giving him a team high 724 all purpose yards, or 180 per game.

The Warrior defense is still weak, however, allowing 48 points per game so far, although to be fair, 54 of those points came last week in their 54-7 blow out by Bunn – a fate most of Bunn’s opponents will have to the accept this year.

Southern Vance, after one week off following their own big loss – 62-8 from Hertford County – also had a rough 2015, finishing 2-9, scoring 14 per game, and allowing 37 per game.  The Raiders, at 0-4 this season, have been hurt this year by injuries but, like Louisburg, have still managed to score in every game, even scoring 48 points in their 2-point overtime loss to Webb, the only opponents they have in common with Louisburg.  Those two games with Webb were similar in that both Southern and Louisburg scored 48 against the scrappy but undermanned 3A Oxford Warriors; although Louisburg came out on top, and the Raiders let the game slip away in the final 4 minutes.  Both of these teams are rebuilding, and tonight’s contest in Louisburg should be won by the team that commits the fewest turnovers and draws the fewest penalties.

Friday Night Football Scouting Reports

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WIZS 1450 AM provides double coverage tonight of Northern Vance hosting Bunn and Southern Vance hosting Hertford County.  All the radio coverage begins at 6:45 and continues until the final play is done.  Everything is On Air and streamed live at wizs.com or via WIZS on Tunein.

— Scouting Reports by Jeff Jenkins

Northern Vance finishes up a 3-game home stand with its most difficult test so far this season against regular 2A powerhouse Bunn.  The Wildcats form a team that seems to have everything a championship team needs every year.  Their coach, David Howle, has been in charge for 25 of the past 29 years (the last 4 years in a row), and they have not had a losing season since 1988, Howle’s first year.  Over the past decade, the Wildcats have been to the state playoffs every year.  Last year was the Wildcats’ best ever: They lost 2 regular season games to larger schools, but swept their Northern Carolina Conference, including a 51-18 win over Southern Vance, and went to the state finals for the first time, losing the championship game to finish 13-3 overall.  For the entire 2015 season, including playoffs, they averaged an almost unbelievable 48 points per game scoring, breaking a school record for total points scored, while allowing 23 per game.  Along the way to these impressive numbers, Bunn defeated Northern Vance handily last year 49-18.

How does this year’s Wildcats team compare to last year’s?  This time last year they were 1-2, with losses to Wilson Fike and Southern Nash, but still averaging 42 points per game scoring, and allowing 32.  This year, they are 2-1, losing to Southern Nash last week, but winning a 24-20 squeaker over Fike in their season opener.  Last year will be a hard act to follow, especially considering that so many key performers were lost to graduation, including school single-season rushing leader Tevin Perry, who gained over 2,000 rushing yards behind a huge, talented offensive line, all 5 of whom also graduated.  Even Coach Howle has admitted that an entire unit is hard to replace in one year.  However, Sr quarterback Quenten Wright is entering his fourth year as a starter, and backup Christian Murray has a strong arm, and he may see action with Wright lining up as a wide receiver.  Bunn has plenty of depth in one area – fullbacks.  Chris Bumpers, who gained 900 yards on the ground last year as a short yardage RB, returns for his senior season, and he is sharing the running duties with sophomore Raequan Dunston, who scored 2 TD’s last week on runs of 2 and 6 yards.  Also, starting defensive lineman Omar Rosa is again available as Bunn’s “human bowling ball,” lining up at fullback in short-yardage and goal-line situations.   One lucky addition for the ‘Cats is the addition of speedy running back D. J. Jones, a senior transfer from conference rival Roanoke Rapids, where he accumulated more than 1,800 yards on the ground as a sophomore.  Bunn continues its tradition of effective kickers with Thomas O’Campo, who hit a 25 yard FG last week at the close of the first half.

Even with a 2-1 start, a consistently excellent defense and a respectable 25 point scoring average, it would be overly optimistic to say that Northern Vance is in the same league as Bunn; but starting in 2017, they will in fact be in the same 2A conference, so it’s time for the Vikings to start figuring out how to play toe-to-toe against the Wildcats.

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Last year, Southern Vance traveled to Ahoskie to play the Hertford County Bears for the first time in recent memory – or maybe ever – and got their helmets handed to them in a 47-0 shut-out.  The 2015 Bears went on to finish 9-4, and second in their conference, the very competitive Northeastern Coastal 2A.  Hertford scored 38 points per game last year and allowed 24, and went to the playoffs for the 10th year in a row.  Their starting quarterback passed for over 3000 yards and 33 TD’s and scored 8 more times on the ground.  Then he graduated without leaving an experienced back-up.

In the Bears’ first three games this season, however, quarterbacking has not seemed to be a problem.  Jr. Lance Hunter has passed for 199 yards per game and 6 touchdowns, scattering his passes among eight different receivers.  Apparently the Bears coaching staff does not plan for Hunter to run the ball – he has only gained 11 yards on 7 runs – but he is flanked by Jr. RB Kyeem Perry, who averaged 115 yards rushing per game last year for 19 touchdowns, and who ran for 145 yards and 1 score in one game this year.  We are not sure why Perry did not play in the other 2 games, but the other Jr. RB,  Zion Riddick,  gained just under 100 all-purpose yards per game for all 3 games this season.  Only Perry and Riddick have gained significant yardage on the ground so far this season, which may explain the 1-2 start for the Bears.  The passing offense is alive and well, however, with 4 senior receivers available for Hunter as targets:  Jaquarii Roberson led the team last year with 113 yards receiving per game for 19 touchdowns, and he has started this season with 81 yards per game and 2 scores.  Roberson is followed by Justin Sessums, who has averaged 41 yards for 2 games. Rawshaun Beamon caught two touchdown passes in one game, but has apparently not played again;  and Perry caught a pass for a score in his one game.

Sr. Da’andre Beverly has also caught passes this season, but he is primarily an asset at defensive back.  Last season he averaged 4 solo tackles per game, led the team with 4 interceptions, running one back for a TD, and he blocked a FG and a punt.   The rest of the Bears defense is small-to-medium sized – their leading tacklers so far this year are Sr. OLB Alex Maxbaur, at 5’11 and 208 lbs with 11 tackles per game, and  Sr. DE Demetress Freeman at 6’1” and 200 lbs. with 10 per game.  The defense appears to work as a unit, however, with 4 more players averaging 5 or more tackles per game, and another 10 players with at least one tackle per game.

Offensively, Hertford County may be in for one of its weaker seasons, which seems to happen about once every 3 seasons, with very little running game, unless Kyeem Perry returns to the line-up. So the Raiders should be able to defend the pass and keep the score lower than last year.  But with no established starting quarterback until Corey Twitty Jr. returns from injury, with Malik Boyd missing playing time due to injuries, and with their tendency to stop themselves from scoring with turnovers and penalties, Southern Vance may be hard-pressed to avoid another shutout from this down-east traditional powerhouse.

The Raiders’ best bet will be to have one of the their 4 “quarterback committee” members throw the ball in the general direction of Zamari Ellis and let him out jump however many defenders he has on him at the time – a play which has produced at least one TD in every game so far this year.  Those 4 quarterbacks are also capable of gaining yards and keeping drives going – they rolled up well over 200 yards on the ground against Northern Vance last week – but the holding penalties will have to be minimized by the blockers – only 142 rushing yards went into the books last week because of the 6 or 8 penalties accrued on running plays.

Optimist Bowl Preview (THURSDAY GAME)

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The annual Optimist Bowl is tonight with Southern Vance High School visiting Northern Vance High School for a 7 p.m. kickoff.  Live analysis and play by play coverage begins on WIZS 1450 AM at 6:45.  You can also listen by going to WIZS.com or with the free Tunein Radio App on your smartphone or tablet.

Jeff Jenkins announces the Grid Iron Report on Tuesdays and Fridays on WIZS.  It’s part of “Sports Mayhem” with Kemp Collins at 1 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Scouting Report on Southern Vance from Jeff Jenkins:

Although their record stands at 0-2, The Raiders Offense has been effective from the beginning, scoring 22 against a strong Ravenscroft squad in their opener, and 48 against Webb last week, but without yet chalking up a win.  Scoring on the ground and through the air has been pretty even.  Against Ravenscroft, Southern quarterback Corey Twitty, Jr. passed for 2 TDs, both to Zamari Ellis; and Malik Boyd ran for the third score.  Tyrese Henderson and Shammond Lyons both ran for 2 pt conversions.  Twitty led all rushing with 105 yards (although 15 yards were called back on penalties) and Shammond Lyons ran for 94 yards (but had a 39 yard run called back).

Against Webb last week, Malik Boyd led the Raiders rushing  with 159 yards on 13 carries and scored twice; Tyrese Henderson gained 100 yards and scored a TD and a 2 pt. conversion;  and Lyons ran for a TD and a conversion.  Twitty passed for 89 yards, including 2 touchdowns, both to Shammond Lyons.  Then when Twitty was knocked out of the game early in the second half, Lyons took over at quarterback and threw a TD pass to Ellis in overtime.  Lyons also attempted the essential 2 pt conversion run in overtime and was stopped short.

And so, the Raiders have scored a very respectable 35 points per game; but their defense has not been nearly as effective, allowing 46 per game.

Scouting Report on Northern Vance from Jeff Jenkins:

Thanks to the last altogether unfortunate contest with Warren County, The Vikings’ numbers are not as impressive as the Raiders.  Northern Vance stands at 1-1, after Northern scoring 42 points against East Chapel Hill, and then 5 against Warren, giving them a modest 23 ½  point average – about the same as they had at the end of last season.  On the other hand, the Viking defense was consistently excellent, chalking up shut-outs in both games. (Keep in mind that Warren County scored it’s 7 points against the Viking offense – on a fumble recovery and run-back).

UNC-Chapel Hill posts response to NCAA’s amended notice of allegations

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(Full Release With Additional Links)

(Chapel Hill, N.C. – Aug. 2, 2016) – The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has released its response to the NCAA’s amended notice of allegations resulting from a joint investigation of past academic irregularities.

Carolina posted the response, submitted August 1, on the Carolina Commitment website, https://carolinacommitment.unc.edu/, after a review to protect privacy rights. Later, the University also will post a public copy of accompanying exhibits the University provided with its response to the NCAA.

“As a member of the NCAA, we carefully considered the appropriate University response based upon a thorough analysis of the NCAA’s Constitution and bylaws and all involved parties’ mutual desire to adhere to these important standards,” Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham said. “We identified key issues and provided factual responses for each allegation with the goal of bringing this case to a fair and just conclusion.’’

“Our work to reach this point has been extensive, including implementing wide-ranging reforms and taking substantial actions to ensure transparency and integrity across the University,” said Chancellor Carol L. Folt. “The necessary scrutiny and self-examination has made us a stronger University, and the resolution of this case will be vital to our moving forward.”

The University responded to the NCAA’s amended notice, sent April 25. The University previously disclosed the original notice sent in May 2015 and reported new information last August that the NCAA determined warranted the revised notice.

Beyond today’s post and consistent with NCAA protocols, University officials are unable to comment on the substance of the investigation until the case is complete.

The next major step in the NCAA’s process for the University is an appearance before the Committee on Infractions later this fall. That committee makes the final decision in the case.

-Carolina-

UNC-Chapel Hill will submit and release NCAA response Aug. 1, 2

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(Chapel Hill, N.C. – July 22, 2016) – The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will respond to the NCAA’s amended notice of allegations on Aug. 1 and post a public copy Aug. 2 on the Carolina Commitment website after a review to protect privacy rights.

The University and other involved parties requested the one-week change this week. The NCAA permits requests for additional time to respond to allegations.

This schedule does not reflect any new information, and the amended notice of allegations the NCAA sent on April 25 has not changed.

For more information, refer to https://carolinacommitment.unc.edu/updates/.

-Carolina-

About the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the nation’s first public university, is a global higher education leader known for innovative teaching, research and public service. A member of the prestigious Association of American Universities, Carolina regularly ranks as the best value for academic quality in U.S. public higher education. Now in its third century, the University offers 77 bachelor’s, 113 master’s, 68 doctorate and seven professional degree programs through 14 schools and the College of Arts and Sciences. Every day, faculty – including two Nobel laureates – staff and students shape their teaching, research and public service to meet North Carolina’s most pressing needs in every region and all 100 counties. Carolina’s more than 308,000 alumni live in all 50 states and 150 countries. More than 167,000 live in North Carolina.

Issued by: Rick White, Associate Vice Chancellor for Communications and Public Affairs;
Communications and Public Affairs Contact: (919) 445-8555, mediarelations@unc.edu

Photo courtesy of GoHeels.com

Bob Harris to Retire as Voice of the Blue Devils

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DURHAM, N.C. – Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Harris, the “Voice of the Blue Devils” for the past four decades, will retire from his post following the 2016-17 men’s basketball season.  Harris, who will retire as the longest-tenured play-by-play announcer in the history of the Atlantic Coast Conference, will make a public announcement tomorrow (Wednesday, July 6) at a press conference set for 12 noon in the Bill Brill Media Room in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

A three-time recipient of the North Carolina Broadcaster of the Year honor from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association in 1988, 1991 and 2011, Harris is a member of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame (inducted in 2006) and the Stanly County Sports Hall of Fame (1993).  In 2009, he was honored with the Atlantic Coast Conference’s prestigious Skeeter Francis Award, an honor presented annually to individuals for distinguished service to the league.  In 2016, Harris received The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, an honor conferred by the Governor of North Carolina for exemplary service to the State of North Carolina and its communities.

Harris will enter the 2016 football season with an active streak of 459 consecutive games announced, a run that began on September 11, 1976, with Duke’s 21-18 victory over Tennessee.  He has called six postseason bowl games (1989 All American, 1994 Hall of Fame, 2012 Belk, 2013 Chick-fil-A, 2014 Hyundai Sun & 2015 Pinstripe) along with Duke’s appearances in the Coca Cola Bowl against Clemson on November 30, 1991, in Tokyo, Japan, and the Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game versus Florida State on December 7, 2013, in Charlotte, N.C.

Harris has worked with nine head football coaches (Mike McGee, Red Wilson, Steve Sloan, Steve Spurrier, Barry Wilson, Fred Goldsmith, Carl Franks, Ted Roof & David Cutcliffe) and 114 assistant coaches while calling the action alongside analysts Wes Chesson, John McNabb and Danny Highsmith.  The Harris-Chesson tandem has manned the Blue Devil broadcast booth for the past 35 seasons and partnered in 2000 to call the 64th annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, a high school football all-star event featuring teams from North and South Carolina.  In addition, Harris has been joined on football broadcasts by sideline reporters Tony Haynes, Anthony Dilweg and Johnny Moore along with spotters Clyde Cupples and Joel Stutts and statisticians Bristol Maginnes, Eric Brooks, Joe Beavers, Mike Sobb and Tripp Winkler.

On the hardwood, Harris has called 1,358 Blue Devil basketball games including 104 tilts in the storied Duke-North Carolina rivalry.  He has worked 13 NCAA Final Four events while calling 10 championship games including all five of Duke’s national titles in 1991 (Indianapolis), 1992 (Minneapolis), 2001 (Minneapolis), 2010 (Indianapolis) and 2015 (Indianapolis).  Harris also has broadcast 16 ACC Tournament championship game victories for the Blue Devils in 1978, 1980, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

With Duke basketball, Harris has worked with a pair of head coaches (Bill Foster & Mike Krzyzewski) and 26 assistant coaches.  Analysts to work with Harris include Glenn Smiley, Bob Bender, Jay Bilas, Billy King, Johnny Dawkins, Steve Wojciechowski and John Roth while sideline reporter Matthew Laurance and statistician Phyllis Harris also have accompanied the broadcasts.

Additionally, Harris has worked with nine engineers during his tenure, including the past 13 seasons with John Rose, plus Donnie Tuck, Paul Matthews, David Modlin, Mike Waters, John Brockwell, Rusty Helser, Bob White and Ben Alexander.

Born in 1942 and a native of Albemarle, N.C., Harris got his start in broadcasting in 1967 as the Sports Director at WZKY in his hometown, and later served as the Sports Director at WDNC in Durham from 1975-97.  He has served as the President of the North Carolina Sportscasters Association (1976), President of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (1992) and Honorary Chairman of the North Carolina Beautiful Golf Classic (2010) while also serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame (1996-08) and Board of Directors of Special Olympics North Carolina (2016-present).

In December of 2010, Harris published his autobiography, “How Sweet It Is!: From the Cotton Mill to the Crows’ Nest”.

Over the course of his career, Harris has been involved with many charitable organizations including the Add Penfield Regional Consolidated Services Golf Tournament, Agape Corner School, ALS Association (Jim “Catfish” Hunter Chapter), Brad Johnson Celebrity Golf Classic, Brain Injury Association of North Carolina, Brenner Children’s Hospital, Celebrity Waiters Dinner for Leukemia Foundation, Children’s Charities of the Bluegrass, Children’s Miracle Network, Duke Children’s Hospital, Duke University Hospice, Eastern North Carolina Spinabifida Association, Emily K Foundation, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Grande Dunes Make-A-Wish Pro-Am, Hebron Colony Ministries, Juvenile Diabetes Association of North Carolina, March of Dimes, Meet Me At The Bridge Charity, Me Fine Foundation, Mulligans For Kids Golf Tournament, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Nazareth Children’s Home, New Hanover Medical Center, North Carolina Realtors Charity Challenge, North Carolina Vietnam Veterans Association, Oxford Masonic Home for Children, Ronald McDonald House of Durham, South Brunswick Educational Fund, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Triangle United Way, United Way of North Carolina, and The Willie Stargell Foundation.

Bob and his wife, Phyllis, married 53 years, are proud of their supportive family: daughter Bobbi Harris-McCoy, son-in-law, Ron McCoy, and two grandchildren, Tripp and Meredith Winkler.

—

“Bob Harris’s voice is probably the most familiar and recognizable sound at Duke after the bells of the Chapel.  He has made Duke athletics come alive for generations of fans, through victory and heartbreak alike.  Bob’s commitment to Duke, and especially to our student-athletes and coaches, is deep and fierce. The entire Duke community is grateful for his legacy.”

— Richard H. Brodhead, Duke University President

 

“Bob Harris has served Duke passionately and professionally for 40 years, which is an amazing accomplishment. To be sure, his voice is synonymous with the Blue Devils men’s basketball and football teams. The way he has approached his job, with unmatched dignity and class, is even more impressive. We hope that this year can be a celebration of Bob’s abundant broadcasting accomplishments. He will be missed when his service comes to an end next spring, but until then, we will relish every word as Bob takes his well-deserved ‘victory lap’ during the upcoming year.”

— Kevin White, Duke University Vice President and Director of Athletics

 

“When I think of Bob Harris, I think of sustained excellence as the longest tenured broadcaster in the history of the Atlantic Coast Conference. His unwavering passion for Duke came through each and every broadcast over the past four decades. Without a doubt, Bob has produced some of the greatest calls in Duke history, if not all of sports, during that time. Bob and his wife Phyllis have become great friends of ours throughout the years, and we consider them part of our family. More than that, they’ve made a terrific team, representing Duke with a tremendous amount of class during their long association with the university. Certainly, we will miss Bob after this season ends, but we are very thankful we have had such a long run together.”

— Mike Krzyzewski, Duke University and U.S. National Team Head Men’s Basketball Coach

 

“First off, congratulations to Bob on just an incredible tenure – a true Hall of Fame career – behind the microphone.  When I think of Bob, three words that immediately come to mind are passion, dedication and consistency.  His commitment to both his craft and Duke University are second to none, and then to put together a streak of 459 – and counting – consecutive football games called is absolutely remarkable.  Bob has given his heart and soul to Duke fans, coaches and student-athletes over the past four decades, and for that we are forever grateful.  Deservedly so, Bob is in the class of radio broadcasting icons, and we’ve been fortunate to have him in our booth. With all of that said, I am most proud to call him my friend.”

— David Cutcliffe, Duke University Head Football Coach

 

“Thirty-five years ago Bob took on a neophyte as his partner in the broadcast booth; he tolerated me, mentored me, and afforded me one of the most meaningful and enjoyable experiences of my life.  The main thing Bob taught me was that our broadcasts were about the players; the broadcasts were not about us, Duke, or the coaches, they were about the players.  Over the past forty years, no one has loved Duke University or given more of themselves to Duke University than Bob Harris.  This is going to be a fun football season as we celebrate Bob’s wonderful career.  Like all Duke fans, I am going to miss Bob’s broadcasts, but fortunately, I will continue to enjoy what I treasure most from the thirty-five years I have worked with Bob and that is the great friendship that I have with Bob and that my family has with the Harris family.”

— Wes Chesson, Blue Devil IMG Sports Network Football Analyst

 

“This may sound cliché or colloquial, but Bob truly is one of a kind, and his retirement marks the end of an era. For many Duke fans, he is the only radio voice they’ve ever known. If you were born after 1975, or became a Duke fan since then, he’s the guy who’s provided the soundtrack to a whole catalog of unforgettable Blue Devil moments. It’s hard to think of a dramatic buzzer-beater or some other iconic Duke highlight without hearing Bob’s call playing alongside the memory; even if you didn’t hear it live, you heard it later and got excited all over again. Needless to say, it’s been both a privilege and a pleasure to work with Bob, but it’s been even more enjoyable to spend so much time with him off the air — on road trips, at meals, attending various functions — because he is the living definition of a “people person.” He has time for everyone, no one is a stranger. There simply couldn’t be a more fan-friendly broadcaster. I hope his retirement is as rewarding and fulfilling as the Duke athletics experiences he has enriched for so many of us.”

— John Roth, Blue Devil IMG Sports Network Men’s Basketball Analyst

 

“Congratulations to Bob Harris on over 40 years of being the voice of our Blue Devils.  During my six years at Duke he was “the best voice in sports” and one of my best friends.  Many thanks for a job well done, Bob.  Go Duke!”

— Steve Spurrier, former Duke University Head Football Coach

 

“Bob Harris has been a fixture at Duke for 40 years capturing all the great memories of competition.  What makes Bob special is his love and passion for Duke and his job. He is one of a kind and his calls will live on forever. Congratulations, Bob.  God bless.”

— Joe Alleva, LSU Director of Athletics & former Duke University Director of Athletics

 

“Bob Harris is an institution at Duke, and his voice accompanies almost every iconic moment in Duke history. Bob taught me to be a broadcast pro and, while there is sadness at the thought of him leaving the booth, it will be wonderful to see the rich career of a true Duke legend appropriately celebrated in his final season. Bob Harris’ voice will be missed, but I’m thrilled we all get to savor it for one more year.”

— Jay Bilas, ESPN Broadcaster

 

“Bob Harris is a broadcasting legend. As much a part of Blue Devil lore as the players themselves. I’ve loved sitting a few seats down from Bob on press row – he greets everyone with a warm smile and when you are in his company you know you are in the presence of royalty. You couldn’t ask for a better ambassador of the Duke ‘brand’ than the incomparable Bob Harris.”

— Jim Nantz, CBS Sports Broadcaster

 

“Bob Harris poured his heart, soul and voice into something he loves dearly, Duke University. He is respected by many, including those he often questioned, referees. My favorite, signature call from Bob is Christian Laettner’s buzzer-beater against Kentucky in 1992. I STILL get chills when I hear it.”

— Jeff Gravley, WRAL Sports Director

 

“When I was given the opportunity to begin my career as a member of the Duke broadcast team in 1987, Bob Harris quickly took me under his wing and gave me guidance. Among other things, he taught me the value of passion and enthusiasm. I can’t ever remember Bob having a ‘bad day at the office.’ His positive energy was always so contagious on game days. For Duke fans everywhere, his legendary radio calls will always remain as the soundtrack of their lives. What a great career, a great legend and a great man!”

— Tony Haynes, NC State Wolfpack Sports Network Broadcaster

 

“Bob Harris is without question one of the finest voices in the nation and will be missed not only by Duke fans but fans around the country who have been loyal listeners for years and years. Not only is Bob a legend in the ACC but you would be hard pressed to find a better individual with a heart as big as the state of North Carolina. I know his 41st year at Duke will be a banner year for Bob and his family and he looks toward retirement. I will miss Bob as a broadcaster but more importantly as a dear and loyal friend.”

— Johnny Holliday, Maryland Sports Radio Network Broadcaster

 

“As the voice of the Blue Devils for the last four decades, Bob Harris is synonymous with Duke athletics. His remarkable career has brought us many of the most exciting and iconic moments in Duke football and basketball history. Bob’s love for Duke University is indisputable, and he’s represented himself, his family and the entire Duke community with unwavering class, character and integrity. All of us in the ACC look forward to celebrating Bob as he begins his 41st, and final year, behind the microphone.”

— John Swofford, ACC Commissioner

(photo from WRAL Sports Fan)

H-V 10U Softball Championship

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